Representing 1,300 Manitoba Workers

MTS to Cut More Jobs

Customers will see result of cuts in service delays.

MTS Allstream's decision to slash 345 positions, 110 of them from CEP Local 7's bargaining unit, will reduce customer service on the front lines.

"Customers will notice delays for all kinds of service requests," said Local 7 president Diane Shaver. "Everything from operators to Internet to the TV service will be affected."

Workers in customer care, clerical and operator services will lose long-time, full-time jobs with yet another staffing reduction. These cuts come less than two months after the company sold MTS Media to Quebec-based Yellow Pages.

The jobs will be eliminated through a voluntary program that awards senior employees with severance and pension bridging. If insufficient people come forward the job losses may then come through MTS layoffs.

"We are extremely disappointed that MTS continues to cut jobs in an already lean shop," said Lea Baturin, CEP National Representative. "Once again Manitoba loses well-paid, full-time positions because of MTS policies rooted in the privatisation of the former crown corporation."

Baturin described the announcement of more job cuts as "extremely unfortunate " but added that there will be no layoffs at this point because of the language of the union's collective agreement with the company.

MTS Local 7 represents 1,300 MTS employees.